December 27, 2007

Good Thursday morning! We are expecting snow today and it does look like it will start at any moment. This year, a white New Year's will most likely accompany our white Christmas. Today, Pastor Rogers asked this question, "Are you looking at life with the eyes of the Lord and trusting that He will provide, not necessarily what you want, but what you need?" How would you answer that? I will share with you my answer, and that is, "Not entirely and not yet." That seems a bit wishy-washy, like there is some shortcoming in my spiritual life. However, I know the Lord has brought me a long way from where I was some years ago. I also realize that my journey in this life is not complete. That is no huge revelation; I am here writing to you this morning and not in heaven with Jesus, so it isn't too difficult to figure out that my journey is not finished in this life.

Each Christmas, millions of kids, and more than a few adults, are encouraged to write a list of what they want. The things or stuff that we want come very easily to our minds and change almost moment by moment. Those things that we truly need are more difficult to list. Few of us know every thing or situation that we need; almost all of us have a good idea what we want. The comforting thing to know is that God knows both what we want, since we usually tell him often, and what we need.

Remember reading about the rich young ruler coming to Jesus and being told what he needed? What we need may not line up with what we want or think we want, but it is what God knows that we need. That young man needed to get rid of some stuff and learn to give. Our needs may not be the same as his; you may not have anything to sell or give right now materially, we can all give the Good News to an ailing world. Some of us may need an education (that would be me!), some may need a different job, some may need a friend, and others may need a mate. We don't know all of these things because God doesn't always tell us directly what it is that we need. You or I may need to be in a certain situation or circumstance. If God told us that, we would immediately start trying to accomplish the circumstance in our own strength and knowledge, and we would probably make a big mess of things.

What do we, you and I, need? Each of us will spend a lifetime learning the answer to that question, and the Lord will provide not only the answer, but the needs as well. This learning and looking back will make for one interesting journey, with a wonderful reward at the end.

God bless you as you prepare for a new year in this life.

Bucky